Willits woman kidnapped at gunpoint is safe

An unidentified Willits woman was able to convince her ex-boyfriend to release her after she was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint while walking home the evening of November 21.

John Austin McCullough, 31, of Willits, was arrested November 28 on suspicion of kidnapping at gunpoint, assault with a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, intimidating a witness and issuing terrorist threats. He was arraigned November 29 with the added enhancement of two prison priors.

Law enforcement had been quietly looking for McCullough since the victim contacted them on November 21. Another man driving McCullough's white Oldsmobile was pulled over during the manhunt.

McCullough subsequently turned himself in to authorities.

The victim told police she was walking home from work along Baechtel Road when McCullough began pacing her with his car and telling her to get into the car. She told him to stop following her. The victim said the altercation escalated, and McCullough allegedly told her to get into the vehicle or he would kill her. She continued to ignore his threats until "he pulled a small black handgun and said, 'I will kill you."

The victim got into the car and McCullough allegedly grabbed for her cell phone, but the victim said she realized her cell phone was her lifeline and refused to give it up without a struggle.

Immediately after getting her into the vehicle, McCullough drove to Highway 20 toward Fort Bragg. As they were driving, he began shouting at her about how she was unfaithful, according to police. McCullough then began slamming the victim's face into the dashboard and choking her, while driving erratically on Highway 20. He successfully grabbed her cell phone and removed the battery, saying "Now, no one can track you."

The victim told police she felt she had to try and placate McCullough or he would kill her, so she told him she wanted them to get back together in an attempt to pacify him. She said it seemed to work, and McCullough calmed down, turning the car around at James Creek and heading back to Willits.

She convinced her alleged kidnapper she needed to use the restroom, and he stopped at Flyers but kept her under close surveillance. At Flyers, she nearly escaped, but he followed her into the restroom and prevented her from alerting the clerk.

This incident seemed to agitate her kidnapper again, and he began driving toward Ukiah, with her pleading for him to take her home. He expressed concern she would just call police if he took her home.

McCullough then turned the car around at the Ridgewood crest and allegedly told her: "I might as well kill you now."

The victim kept calming and placating him as they drove back to Willits. When the victim was dropped off at her home, McCullough allegedly said: "If you call police I will kill you."